Kawasaki to showcase Ninja 400, ZX-10R SE at auto expo 2018

Kawasaki is expected to showcase – and maybe launch – a variety of motorcycles at the Auto Expo 2018. The new Ninja 400 is likely to be present at the manufacturer’s stand, along with the new SE variant of its litre-class bike, the ZX-10R, that’s also expected to make its Indian debut at the show. Kawasaki may also show its Ninja H2 SX (touring-orientated H2) at the show. There is also a possibility to see a road-legal enduro motorcycle – a segment first – from Kawasaki at the Auto Expo 2018.

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R SE

The Kawasaki ZX-10R now has an SE optional that features electronic semi-active suspension derived from the business’s Super-bike World Contest race bike. Along with the trick suspension, the motorcycle also gets additional equipment to further enhance its track abilities. Kawasaki claims that the new ZX-10R SE is slackly derived from Jonathan Rea’s Ninja ZX-10RR race bike. The SE comes equipped with Showa suspension at the front and rear (Balance Free Front Fork and BFRC-lite shock, featuring the same construction as the suspension on Kawasaki’s WSB Ninja ZX-10RR race machines). It is also the business’s first bike to feature Kawasaki Electronic Control Suspension (KECS) – an expertise that has stroke sensors and alteration solenoids built into the suspension.

Kawasaki Ninja 400

The 400 in the Ninja’s name indicates the motorcycle’s all-new 399cc parallel-twin engine that makes a claimed 45hp and 38Nm of torque. The Ninja 400 has a new steel trellis frame that uses the engine as a strained member and helps bring a 6kg weight saving above the Ninja 300, putting it at 168kg. The clutch pull is lighter thanks to the addition of the assist and slipper clutch. The motorcycle also comes with a larger 310mm disc up front with Nissin ABS. Kawasaki claims that the ‘large-volume bodywork’ offers great wind protection. Also part of the bodywork are the Ninja H2 inspired ‘chin-spoilers’ below the twin-LED headlamps. Another bit from a bigger sibling is the instrument cluster, which is directly borrowed from the Ninja 650

Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX

If you were looking at getting the H2 but felt that it needed a bit more practicality, then Kawasaki has you covered now. The Japanese bike maker recently launched the supercharged H2 SX sports tourer internationally, which features a lot of changes over the standard H2 – including an improved fuel economy – that make it more of a tourer. The bike is available in 2 trims – the SX and the high-spec SX SE – and Kawasaki states that the engine has received revisions to provide more mid-range power, as opposed to the top-end power seen on the H2 and H2R. The revised performance was achieved by making big changes to the engine’s internals, with it getting new cylinders, pistons, head, camshaft and supercharger.

Dirt bikes

Kawasaki has so far launched several non-road-legal, dirt-biased motorcycles. First came the small KLX 110 in late 2015, followed by the motocross-style KX100 and KX250F in December 2016. In January 2017, Kawasaki introduced the off-road, trail-style KLX 140G. After which, Kawasaki brought the new KX250F, KX450F and KLX450R to India. We can expect all of these dirt bikes and more to be on display at Kawasaki’s stand at the Auto Expo 2018. In addition to this, we could see Kawasaki introduction something along the lines of its 2018 KLX 250 in India.